$.5 million invested in youth skills development

Republic Bank Limited has invested approximately $500,000 into the staging of its 16th Annual Republic Right Start Cup Youth Football Tournament, which is expected to attract over 2400 players from 200 teams from across the country. This was announced during a press conference at the Bank’s head office on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain yesterday. Lasting three weekends from July 9-24, the tournament will be held in five different locations throughout T&T (The Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Old Moosai Grounds in Tunapuna, the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella and the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago.)

Over $50,000 in prizes will be up for grabs in the four categories (Boys Under 12 and Under 17 and Girls Under 12 and Under 17) while the 400 finalists will each be given a $50 Right Start savings account.
There will also be prizes for Most Valuable Player, Most Disciplined Player and Most Promising Player with the winners automatically qualifying to participate in the annual week long Republic Cup Youth Football Camp. Republic Bank Limited’s General Manager, Risk Management Roopnarine Oumade Singh said the company hoped to have a positive influence on the tournament’s participants through sports and by introducing them to financial responsibility.

“We know that sport improves our youngsters’ social development skills, hones their ability to manage success and failure, develops a respect for self and others, as well as promotes a sense of fair play,” he said. “A major part of the reason why we give these savings accounts comes from the fact that we wanted, in addition to providing a fun, fast-paced and rewarding tournament, to inculcate habits of saving and financial responsibility within these budding minds simultaneously.” The tournament and camp are part of the Bank’s ‘Power to Make to Make a Difference’ social development programme. Launched in 2003, the initiative has pledged $40 million over the next five years to various community projects and NGOs, focusing largely on the positive development of the country’s youth through educational, cultural and sporting initiatives.

SCHEDULE

July 9: Round One; Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain
July 10: Round Two; Old Moosai Ground, Tacarigua
July 13: Round Three; Dwight Yorke Stadium; Tobago
July 16: Round Four; Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
July 17: Round Five; Ato Boldon Stadium; Couva
July 24: Finals; Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain